Dear DeanDePiero.com Visitor:

I would like to assure you my administration is working around the clock to provide and maintain the quality city services Parma residents have come to expect. And I am proud to say the City of Parma remains strong on all fronts as our community and the entire nation grapples with a serious economic crisis that experts have compared to the Great Depression. The bottom line to my latest State of the City Address is cautious optimism for the future.

While no city is immune to the growing foreclosure dilemma, I am pleased to report the city of Parma has been able to stay fiscally stable and economically strong over the past several months. As you might expect, we are pulling out all the stops in doing all we can to help residents in danger of losing their homes.

At the present time, we have about 250 vacant houses in Parma that are inspected weekly to ensure the property is properly maintained and hazard-free. We seem to be holding our own when you consider Parma has more than 30,000 housing units in all.

We are also working closely with banking and financial institutions, county and state lawmakers, county and state agencies and other housing experts in order to connect all residents with the best people at the right time.

Please don't hesitate to call my office or any member of my administrative team if we can be of assistance to you and your family. Remember, contacting the United Way, "First Call for Help" by dialing 2-1-1 from any phone will put you in touch with a host of economic advisors who can answer your questions and steer you in the right direction. This is a great resource for anyone needing assistance for almost any issue.

I am proud to say we have completed the traffic light signalization project at several busy intersections throughout the city. This is aimed at improving the flow of traffic at all hours of the day and night, preventing chronic congestion along major thoroughfares that has been a common complaint for decades.

We have also successfully completed the installation of hi-tech emergency radio communications that enables the Parma Police Department to talk simultaneously on the same radio system with members of the Parma Fire Department during a crisis or emergency. The new program is a life-saving tool for every resident of our city. We are offering adjoining communities to join this life-saving link with their own safety forces in the near future.

And the City has also completed a long-awaited facelift at the Michael A. Ries Ice Rink that included the installation of dasher boards and glass paneling surrounding the arena. The ice rink remains a great asset to all families and residents in the City of Parma - another big plus for quality of life.

I like to say our city is a great success thanks to Progress through Partnerships. Together we will remain a united, economically strong and close knit community.

Sincerely,

Dean DePiero
Mayor